Celebrating Maritime Heritage

November 25, 2009

SOS: City of Adelaide!

This post maybe longer than our usual ones, BUT to see the true passion from Australia towards the plight of the City of Adelaide it would not be appropriate to edit this open letter...

To the Prime Minister and People of the United Kingdom,20 November 2009

The historic clipper ship City of Adelaide

You are entrusted with a historic ship of undoubted international significance. The 'City of Adelaide' is an extraordinarily important part of our common heritage. As the only surviving sailing ship built to give regular passenger and cargo service between Europe and Australia, she represents a whole foundation era of Australian economic and social history. It is difficult to imagine a more vital icon of the making of modern Australia, and of the relationship between Britain and the Australian colonies.

In the 1800s, thousands of European migrants made the long and arduous voyage to Australia. They all came by sea, many to establish a new life. It was a trade involving hundreds of ships from convict transports to gold rush clippers. Despite its pivotal role in the development of the country, the only significant remaining heritage of this ship trade is the ‘City of Adelaide’.

The ‘City of Adelaide’ was purpose built to serve the passenger trade. For a quarter of a century, the clipper played an important role in the development of the colony of South Australia. She carried all classes of passengers from the rich to the poor, from people 'of substance', to government assisted emigrants. Her first class cabins were considered to be the finest of the sailing ship era. Today their descendents living in South Australia number in the hundreds of thousands.

On annual outward voyages to Adelaide she carried goods needed for the colony’s development and survival. On return voyages to London, she would carry South Australian produce including copper and wool. The ‘City of Adelaide’ made more visits to the fledgling colony than any other vessel before or since.

We are a relatively young nation. In 2011, Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, will be celebrating its 175th birthday, the Royal Australian Navy will celebrate its 100th year, and the clipper ship ‘City of Adelaide’ will be 147 years old. She therefore represents a unique and tangible link to our colonial past.

Presently the ‘City of Adelaide’ sits on a slipway in Scotland and is in the way of a housing development. That there are now plans to spend considerable funds to demolish the historic ship in order to clear the site causes great alarm and dismay.

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh has highlighted that much effort and concentration is lavished on the preservation of great and historic buildings. The same cannot be said for historic ships … The coming of the machine age put an end to thousands of years of wooden sail-driven ships. The ‘City of Adelaide’ is one of the most important historic vessels in the United Kingdom and every effort should be made to ensure the future of the vessel.

We especially urge the people of the United Kingdom to ensure that this grand lady of the days of sail is not demolished and broken into pieces. We write to assure you that as the eyes of the world switch to the United Kingdom for the 2010 Tall Ship Races and the 2012 London Olympics your actions in protecting the world heritage with which you are entrusted will be followed closely by the Australian community, and indeed by that of the international maritime community.

The Hon Robert (Bob) Hawke AC, 23rd Prime Minister of Australia, former president Australian Council of Trade Unions, born in South Australia.

The Hon Alexander Downer, former and longest-serving Foreign Minister of Australia, United Nations Special Envoy to Cyprus, born and still living in Adelaide.

The Hon Robert Hill, Chair Australian Carbon Trust, United States Studies Centre Adjunct Professor in Sustainability, former Australian Ambassador to the United Nations, former Australian Defence Minister, former Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, former Senator for South Australia, Adelaide boy.

Lady Anne Miller, Chief Royal Caledonian Society of South Australia.

Sir James Hardy KBE OBE, yachtsman, businessman and community leader.

Sir Eric Neal AC CVO, Chancellor Flinders University, former Governor of South Australia, Australian Centenary Medal, US Department of Defence Medal, former Chair Coral Sea Commemorative Council, former Australian Chair and International Trustee Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, yachtsman.

The Hon John William von Doussa QC, Chancellor University of Adelaide, former President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, former Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

Robert Champion de Crespigny AC, Deputy Chairman Said Business School Development Board (Oxford University), 2002 South Australian of the Year, founder and former Executive Chairman Normandy Mining Ltd., former Chairman Economic Development Board of South Australia, former Chancellor University of Adelaide.

Anita Aspinall AM, President National Trust of South Australia, Director Australian Council of National Trusts, inaugural Mayor Adelaide Hills Council, former Mayor District Council of Stirling, former Chair McLaren Vale Water Allocation Committee, Australian Centenary Medal.

Rob Gehling FRINA, Secretary and past President of Royal Institution of Naval Architects Australian Division, Chairman International Maritime Organisation's Sub-Committee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessel Safety, former Adelaide and Port Augusta boy.

Tom Chapman, former Chairman of the SA Community Services Committee for Jubilee150 and the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, National President Apex Australia, President of World Council of Young Men’s Service Clubs, descendant of passengers on the ‘City of Adelaide’.

Peter Roberts, Naval Architect, Program Manager Future Projects ASC Pty. Ltd. (former Australian Submarine Corporation), descendant of passengers on the ‘City of Adelaide’. The Right Hon. The Lord Mayor of City of Adelaide, Mr Michael Harbison.

Professor Alfred Huang AM, University of South Australia, former Patron Clipper Ship ‘City of Adelaide’ Preservation Trust, former Lord Mayor of City of Adelaide 2000-2003, South Australian Special Envoy to China.

The Hon Jane Lomax-Smith MP, Member for Adelaide, Minister for the City of Adelaide, former Lord Mayor of City of Adelaide 1997-2000.

Steve Condous, former Lord Mayor of City of Adelaide 1987-1993, businessman, former MP Member for Colton.

Wendy Chapman AM, former Lord Mayor of City of Adelaide 1983-1985, inaugural Chairman of South Australian Tourism Industry Council, Jubliee150 Board, Formula 1 Grand Prix Board, Tourism Advisory Board of South Australia, State Government Heritage Committee.

His Worship, the Mayor of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, Mr Gary Johanson, (main trading port where ‘City of Adelaide’ disembarked and embarked passengers and cargo, and was twice repaired on Fletcher’s Slip).

Her Worship the Mayor of the City of Port Augusta, Joy Baluch AM, (colonial port where ‘City of Adelaide’ collected wool and copper for export).

His Worship the Mayor of the City of Playford, Mr Martin Lindsell, Vice President Scottish Associations of South Australia.

The Hon John Bannon, President History Council of South Australia, former Premier of South Australia.

The Hon Mark Butler MP, Federal Member for Port Adelaide.

Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, Australian Senate.

Senator Simon Birmingham, Australian Senate.

Senator Anne McEwen, Australian Senate.

Senator Don Farrell, Australian Senate.

Senator John Williams, Australian Senate.

Senator Mary Jo Fisher, Australian Senate.

The Hon Jack Snelling MP, Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.